Match Report 2001/2002Lightning strikes twice for PhillipsSaturday 22nd December 2001 : Jewson Wessex LeagueEastleigh 1, Lymington & New Milton 1 |
Based on reports by the Daily Echo
Lymington and New Milton's Leigh Phillips faces a 35-day
ban after being sent off in an ill-tempered clash with Eastleigh. The Linnets
hitman received his marching orders four minutes from time after allegedly
elbowing an opposition player as Graham Kemp's side were held to a
disappointing draw. The 29-year-old, who has scored 16 times in just 13 starts
this season, had only recently returned from a lengthy ban for a similar
incident in the corresponding fixture at the end of last season. Phillips, who
faces another five weeks in the sin bin, got the red card during a goal-mouth
melee as L&NM chased a late winner.
Linnets boss Graham Kemp said:
"It's disappointing because Leigh is one of our best players and this
suspension means that he will have been unavailable for over 100 days of the
season. We had a good chat about his temperament when he signed a new contract
last week and this is something he has got to control. Richie (Glenister) and
two Eastleigh players got involved in a goalmouth skirmish," explained Kemp,
who added that Phillips wasn't initially involved in the incident. "He was
completely gutted afterwards and apologised to everyone in the dressing
room."
The Linnets had chances early in the game. A Leigh Phillips shot
after ten minutes was deflected for a corner and a couple of minutes later, the
same player had another shot which went wide of the mark. For the home side, a
cross from Platt threatened danger to the Linnets' goal but Paul Morris
deflected the ball wide for a corner. Mark Smith then had a shot that well
saved by the Eastleigh 'keeper. The home side retaliated with McAllister
heading just over and back at the other end, Ross Drew shot narrowly wide
before Eastleigh finally broke the deadlock on 35 minutes, McAllister
converting Platt's pass. L&NM pressed for an equaliser and just before
half-time, Mark Smith had another shot well saved by Andy Smith in the
Eastleigh goal.
It was left to top scorer Richard Glenister to
grab his 19th goal of the season and spare the visitors' blushes. Glenister
headed home a Mark Smith centre with five minutes remaining as the New Forest
side narrowly avoided slipping to their first defeat since November. The result
left Lymington & New Milton in seventh spot, trailing out-of-action leaders
Fleet Town by seven points but with two games in hand.
Lymington and New Milton: Kearn, Strong, Bailey-Pearce, Kemp, Morris, Gazzard, Drew, (Keeping 70), Smith (Metcalf 74), L. Phillips, Glenister. Unused sub: Marwood.
Match reports on this site are based on those appearing in the New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times (except where separately credited) with additional material from my own resources where relevant.
Online with the Linnets © Paul Johns MMI